No abstract available.

To overcome the difficulty of controlling stem cell fate and function in applications to regenerative medicine, a number of alternative approaches have been made. Recent reports demonstrate that a non-cellular niche modulating the biophysical microenvironment with chemical factors can support stem cell self-renewal. In our previous studies, early establishment was executed to optimize biophysical factors and it was subsequently found that the microgeometry of the extracellular matrix made huge differences in stem cell behavior and phenotype. We review here a three-dimensional, non-cellular niche designed to support stem cell self-renewal. The characteristics of stem cells under the designed system are further discussed.
Extracellular Matrix ; Phenotype ; Regenerative Medicine ; Stem Cells

No abstract available.
Spinal Cord Vascular Diseases*

No abstract available.
Aneurysm* ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

Sixteen consecutive patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis were treated with pedicular fixation and posterior interbody fusion. There were 8 isthmic and 8 degenerative types ranging in age from 39 to 68 years with a mean age of 52 years. The percentage of slippage averaged 28.5% preoperatively and 5.8% postoperatively in the isthmic type, 12.6% preoperatively and 6.6% postoperatively in the degenerative type. At 6 to 13 months postoperatively, all exhibited radiographic fusion. Clinical results were good in 13/16, fair in 3/16.
Humans ; Spondylolisthesis*

PURPOSE: The difference in the values between autorefraction and clinical refraction with or without cycloplegia in children were analyzed as a function of age. METHODS: One hundred and twenty five children (230 eyes) with myopia or hyperopia were classified into three age groups. Their ages ranged from 2 to 14. They were examined with a Cannon RK-5 autorefractor, and experienced personnel the clinical refraction before and after cycloplegia. Discrepancies beyond 0.5 diopter in spherical equivalent, spherical and cylinder power were regarded as being significant and the discrepancy rates (%) were calculated. The mean absolute differences in the values of each refractive component in myopia and hyperopia were also compared separately according to. RESULTS: All the differences by cycloplegia were significantly smaller in the myopia patients over 5 years old. However, only the discrepancy rates of the spherical equivalent and the sphere component between the clinical manifest refraction and the cycloplegic refraction were significantly smaller in the higher age groups. The comparisons between the clinical and autorefraction revealed significant difference between the age groups only in those with myopia with cycloplegia. CONCLUSIONS: There were differences between the cycloplegic refraction and non-cycloplegic refraction values particularly in myopia patients under five years old and in all hyperopic patients. Autorefraction showed differences from the clinical refraction in both myopia and hyperopia regardless of their ages particularly in those without cycloplegia. Therefore, autorefraction and clinical refraction should be used with caution in children.
Child* ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Hyperopia ; Myopia

We report a case of Pituicytoma, which is a rare brain tumor occuring in the sellar region. A 44-year-old woman presented with polyuria, polydipsia, visual disturbance, amenorrhea and galactorrhea 1 year prior to admission. A magnetic resonance image revealed a well enhancing pituitary mass with large suprasellar extension. There was no area of normal hyperintensity showing the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland. The tumor was subtotally removed via transsphenoidal surgery. Pathological examination of the surgical specimen showed astrocytes with spindle-shaped fibrillary cytoplams. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein, S-100, vimentin. Radiotherapy was not given after surgery.
Adult ; Amenorrhea ; Astrocytes ; Brain Neoplasms ; Female ; Galactorrhea ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Humans ; Pituitary Gland ; Polydipsia ; Polyuria ; Pregnancy ; Radiotherapy ; Vimentin